924Board.org

[Peter]

I recently came back from a three-day-long tack event with the Porsche Club of America (“PCA”). I have been doing PCA DE track events since 1999 with my stock Euro 1984 924, and have advanced to the White run group, which is only two levels below instructor.

I have really enjoyed piloting my 924 on the track and have purposely kept is stock (including full interior, drum brakes, 14” wheels, etc) to insure that as my lap times increase it was due to driver skill not better suspension and/or engine performance. Throughout the years I have received some nice compliments from fellow drivers and instructors who know the limitations of the 924 and are amazed that it is able to keep up with the pack. PCA DE events are open to all classes of Porsche cars, and are not limited to any type of class restrictions, such as stock vs. modified, or power or such as under 2 liter vs. over 2 liter class. Rather, drivers are classed according to their skill level not the car’s performance. That is, all White Run group drivers have the similar high degree of driver skil. Over the years I have not noticed any other 924 on the track, and even a gradual disappearance of 924S and 944 cars. However, I did notice a robust increase in the number of Porsche GTs and other “monster” cars. This past event, I noticed 3 GTs in the White run group, and a RUF in the beginner Green group. It has become harder and harder to drive a 924 in the White group.

Well, it now appears that another 924 has retired from track use. I told myself that I wanted to drive my humble 924 until it breaks. This past event, almost everything broke. It appears that my 924 is telling me it wants to retire to the life of a highway cruzzer.

A brief description of everything that “broke” on my 924:
(1) Threads on the passenger-side drum brake fail causing 1 bolt to be pulled out. (Don’t ask how I passed tech inspection, but I drove it on the track for some real “white knuckle” driving);
(2) Muffler baffle breaks internally, causing rattling and decrease in power.
(3) Thread on the driver-side drum brake fails causing 1 bolt to pull out. (Are these things defective?);
(4) Driver side ball joint fails. (That explains the exceedingly tough time I had hitting my apexes);
(5) fuel-level sending unit “acts up” resulting in me running out of gas with the gauge still showing gas in the car;
(6) Alternator belt whines severely (indicative of belt glazing and time to replace); and,
(7) Brand new Yokahama A032 track tire blows-out on highway ride home.

Overall, my wife and I had a great time at the track! The car was fixed between races thanks to a great mechanic (Steve Ohlinger owner of the Auto Shop in Salisbury, CT) who is a SCCA VW racer himself, and a fellow PCAer who was trailing his car home and stopped to help change the blown tire (thanks lime-green 951 guy wherever you are).

I am very concerned about the drums and the fact that the threads were pulling out. Last year, I replaced the original drums with OEM Brembo drums right before I drove the car to Mount Tremblant, Quebec for a week of racing and sight seeing. A year later the thread begin pulling out?

Now, my wife and I had a good time and came home safely, and I caught up with old friends and made new ones, and the 924 will be repaired. As I promised it, it is officially retired form the track. I will be setting my sights on a new track car, a race-prepped 951 or 911(going over to the dark side). Something that I won’t grow out of like the 924. In the mean time, I will use the 931 for track events until the 951 or 911 arrives. My race number will still be 156, so feel free to say hello, regardless of what I am driving.

-Peter

BTW, I wanted to add that my race pads perrfomed flawlessly. I had been using Mintex, Ferod (sp?) and severl other manufacturers and the pads would wear out within 3-4 days of track use. I switched to KFP Magnum Gold Pads, a carbon kelvar pad, that is reasonable on the rotors, low dust, and most importantly, lasts. I purchased mine from Paragon for $120.00 a set. I highly recommend them.

[Neil924]

Well Peter that sounds like you had tonnes of fun and the 924 was used to it's full affect. I hope you contimue to race with a car that will challange you and not break the bank. Best of luck with the after life of the 924 and whatever "new" track car you slide into.

Neil

[John Brown]

Understand comletely. The hp inflatio is rampant in all groups (WRX with mods is blindinly fast - wish it had brakes); but especially so in PCA events.

On the other hand; strip it down to 2200 lbs and you have a track car you don't have to worry about. It's as near to 'throw-away' as can get.
_________________
John
80 931 - #931 44Cup
99 Escalade - tows track cars
gone but not forgotten: original 924.org car - 82

[endwrench]

Wish I could have watched you race. Thanks for flying the 924 colors for so long!

Todd

[Chrenan]

I think the next logical step is a 997 GT3. I think that is the only car that wouldn't let you down after the 924.
_________________
1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[924RACR]

Good work, and cheers for sticking with 'er so long...

I'll second the vote on the KFP's - that's all I've ever used on my car (with 5-lug brakes) since I started racing, and all I'll ever use - never wanted anything more...
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Vince Ponz]

Peter, you know I have parts for you.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

[Peter]

Thanks for the kind words and no negative comments about considering a 911 track car. The 924 is a great track car, and as John said, as close to a “throw-away-car” as you can get in a Porsche.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time for SCCA or NASA where, as Vaughn and others will agree, the 924 is better suited rather than PCA events.

A 2006 GT3 would be nice Chrenan, but I don’t have the money. Reminds me of a comment made to me. A fellow racer who drives a 2004 GT in the White run group stated that it cracked him up watching my 924 go through Big Bend at Lime Rock race track (Big Bend is a 180 degree turn with a decreasing radius at track out) because at 60 MPH the 924 had so much body roll it looked like it would roll over. Of course this would never happen because the center of gravity is too low; however, it looks real cool for the spectators.

I just hope other 924 owners will take their cars to the track: it’s a great beginner track car. I had a lot of fun and learned a great deal.

BTW, Tracktimephotos was at the track and took pics of the cars on the track. I was in the White group with CVR on April 1 and HVR on March 30.

Here is a link to one of the pics of my 924. I am doing my best to honor us 924 drivers.

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?EventOrderZoom?i=04FT003V030023&a=1CAC220A99B6D245E2F342FF7FFE731764D87A35F2276F8A3CFB157642CCFD12&w=800&h=530

Go to the main index at www.tracktimephotos.com to search the galleries for other cars at the events.